NEW DELHI: Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Election Commission after fresh polling was announced in the Falta assembly constituency. This decision followed reports of severe electoral offences and subversion of the democratic process during the second phase of polling on April 29.
Banerjee's Challenge to BJP
Reacting to a social media post by BJP leader Amit Malviya on X, the TMC MP from Diamond Harbour challenged the Bangla Birodhi Gujarati gang to contest from Falta. Ten lifetimes won't be enough for your Bangla Birodhi Gujarati gang and their stooge Gyanesh Kumar to put even a dent in my DIAMOND HARBOUR MODEL, Banerjee wrote. He further challenged the entire Union of India, urging them to come to Falta. Send your strongest, send one of the godfathers from Delhi. If you have got the nerve, contest in Falta, he added.
Repoll Details
The poll body announced a repoll in Falta on May 21, with counting scheduled for May 24. This marks the first time in West Bengal that a full assembly constituency will go to the polls after the declaration of results. In India, only Bihar has had such a precedence.
BJP's co-incharge of West Bengal, Amit Malviya, alleged that voters were prevented from choosing the party candidate at several polling booths in Falta under the Diamond Harbour constituency during phase two of the assembly elections. Buttons were defaced with black masking tape and ink, affecting 60 of 285 polling stations, which accounted for 21% of the constituency. These booths had 53,967 voters, representing 22.8% of the 2.36 lakh electorate.
The Election Commission stated that this compromised the integrity of recorded votes and made it impossible to ascertain the mandate. Gaps in video footage suggested that similar tampering elsewhere in Falta could not be ruled out. An inquiry into complaints found widespread tampering of EVMs at multiple booths.
Tension in Hasimnagar
Meanwhile, tension flared in Hasimnagar, a locality within Falta along the Hooghly river corridor, where villagers alleged threats from associates of TMC candidate Jahangir Khan. Police observer Ajaypal Sharma, a DIG overseeing Diamond Harbour subdivision on the city's southern fringe, rushed to the area as residents complained of inaction. Security was stepped up with the deployment of state police and central forces. The Election Commission later ordered the arrest of two of Khan's aides, Izrafil Chokdar and Sujauddin Sheikh.
The countermanding removes Falta from Monday's count, tightening the focus on the remaining seats that will determine the next government.
